Carlotto’s grandson: ‘I am comfortable and grateful with my truth’

Guido Montoya Carlotto and his grandmother Estela de Carlotto during their first public appearence together.

The recovered grandson of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo head Estela de Carlotto said today he feels “grateful” and “extremely happy” having “discovered his truth”, during his first public appearance since the news about his finding.

“I’m shocked; I just discovered who I am two days ago,’ said Guido Montoya Carlotto, who was raised under the name of Ignacio Hurban, visibly overwhelmed by the situation.

“I feel wonderful and very happy to be part of the healing process the Grandmothers started after the terrible dictatorship,” he added.

Carlotto’s grandson hoped his recovery will serve to boost the Grandmothers search and highlighted the human rights organization has been receiving hundreds of new calls since the news about his finding on Monday.

“I have been welcomed very lovingly by my grandmother Estela and my recovered family. That made things a lot easier and comfortable,” he said.

Ignacio, as he repeatedly insisted on being called, described the reunion with his grandmother as “the end of a 36 year search, a real struggle, a happy ending that adds to my also loving upbringing.”

“I am comfortable and grateful with my truth. I am Ignacio and also Guido. I am lucky to have had a very loving and understanding family growing up, and now I recovered Estela’s family. I fell very happy because I can see the joy in Estela’s eyes”.

Ignacio revealed he found out he was adopted two months ago during his birthday. As a musician, he was involved in the program “Músicos por la identidad”, and decided to make the DNA test at Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo after a meeting with recovered grandsons organized by “Músicos”.

“There was this kind of noise inside my head, this urge to know, to find out, and to make the test. I ask everyone who feels this way to take the risk and do it.”

“My greatest fear was not to ever find out about my biological family, but I am lucky. I had a marvelous life and now this,” Ignacio said.

Estela de Carlotto told reporters this morning Ignacio “wanted the press to know him. It was his idea. I don’t push him, I want him to start knowing the story gradually.”

The press conference was held at the headquarters of the Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo organization located in the BA City neighbourhood of Belgrano.